Elder Cristian Jenson serving in the Detroit, MI Mission

Elder Cristian Jenson serving in the Detroit, MI Mission

Monday, March 31, 2014

March 24, 2014

Great Week!!

         So another great week in the Blue Water area :)  Elder Humphreys and I have been working very hard like always.  Well to start off with the week on Monday was St. Patrick day which was really funny because if you drive down through Port Huron at 8pm and on the do a Pup Craw (where everyone drinks goes to bars all night until they are passed out or hungover). It was pretty funny to see some people just trying to walk to the next bar. It's also very sad because it only one night and it that 4hrs or so many people can either die or get very sick by having to much or someone spiking there drink.
       We've been able to work with a couple of investigators this week. We our down to one investigator now because one of them went back to jail for 40 days because he did not pass his breathing testing in the morning when he showed up to the court house. The investigator that we were teaching was a brother of a recent convert of a 1 year. Elder Humphreys and I are planning to start working with him when he gets out of jail.
       Went to a wedding and Elder Humphreys and I were in the wedding as the standing in and walking people down row. It was great to see a Less Active family get married. Just now have to work with the husband now on taking the lessons and getting baptized so they can go to the temple! :)
   Elder Humphreys and I are still working with T.J R, T.J is amazing we went over the Word Of Wisdom this week! :) Started the 7 day stop smoking program with him and he started it with his wife which was way cool. One amazing miracle we had this week was that T.J's wife came to church! So Elder Humphreys and I set a goal on Friday to find a family of 3 for that day. It was 9pm at night and we started our nightly planning that we do each night for the next day. We received a text from T.J that said " I and my wife our drifting a declaration for the stop smoking and also my wife will be attending church with me." She sounds like she's going to give us a change to work with her. T.J is still on date for May 3rd 2014! He is amazing he reads all the books including D&C, Pearl Of Great Price and also looks up on his own time the Mormon Channel videos! :) T.J is amazing, Tomorrow we will be going over Priesthood, Temple prep and also church aux. :)
       So yesterday we had Ward Conference which was great because after church I was able to answer some of T.J's text about the organization of the church. I was able to lead him to D&C 1:20 and also section 20 which is explains organization and priesthood and other. Elder Humphreys and I were also able to give a few blessing to a family in the ward the Sultemeier's. The Sultemeier's are amazing  young family that foods us about every Sunday! :) Last night we were able to share about Mosiah 2 about King Benjamin address and I have in my scriptures off to the side General Conference. It kinda shows me that King Benjamin's address was one of the first kinda General Conference as you read Verse 1-9. Elder Humphreys and I have been using Mosiah 2:17 a lot in lessons and switch "service " into "Love" because as we our able to love each of God's kid he will have the Love for us. :)
          Well that's the update for the week :) Hope you have amazing week! I was able to activate my Card, Thanks
 Also that my insight for the week ! :) LOVE Your Family!! Crazy I'm going to be at 21 months on Friday!

March 17, 2014

Amazing Week!!

 On with the airport stuff, I really don't mind. I know that it will save lot's more money for the family if we just do the St. George airport. The only reason I would like to do the SLC airport is that I have many friends and the Butler 11th ward I would like to see and also that two of the MTC friends I cameout with will be going to that airport also.
             Anyways on with the week in The Blue Water area. To start of the week right, Elder Humphreys and I had a great lesson on Monday with an investigator TJ. R. We've been meeting with TJ over the last couple of weeks and TJ put his self on date for May 3, 2014.  We are planning to see TJ this week and just go over the commandments from God. :) We also had a Zone Conference over the week and it went amazing. We learned how to work with Less Actives more effectively and also helping our investigators how to read. It pretty sad to see that many people don't know how to read so we have to teach them how to.
  I was sick over the week for two days. I think it was just the flu but I lost a couple of pounds and went right back where I was 108lb which kinda stick but hopefully this week I can keep it all down and gain some mass more then only a couple of days.
   Oh yeah I was  going to share some more insight about what I got out of the talk and scripture last week.
          To start off we will start with the song "Do what is right let the Consequence Follow" that Elder Richard G Scott used in the Feb 2014 Ensighn. As we see in Helaman Chapter 5 verse 1-3 Nephi gives up the judgment seat to a man name Cezoram because he knew that he had to go out and save his people in the church.  Nephi gives up the seat and goes out and teach his people and tells his son in verse 12 of Chapter 5. "And now may sons remember remember tat it is upon the rock of our redeemer who is Christ the Son of God that you must build your foundation that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds......................."   Then when we go over to chapter 5 of Helaman you see that success of Nephi even though he gave up the judgment seat. Off to the side of Chapter 6 of Helaman I put what the Admiral  said to Richard G Scott "When you finish your mission, I want you to comeback and work for me" Even though Nephi did not get the judgment seat back he saw many blessing the came to Nephites and Lamanites that to followed his advice. Just like following the the 10 ways to succeed in life from Richard G. Scott. :)
           Well hope you all have a great day, and sorry for the short email. I hope that the insight I gave was in line, I was kinda all over the place when I was thinking of it. It one of my harder ones to make sense.
    Love Elder Jenson

Monday, March 10, 2014

March 10, 2014

Another Great Week
           
             Sorry I'm so late with emailing, but dad will understand why :) So Today Elder Humphreys and I went fishing down on the Port Huron river, no success. Elder Humphreys and I decide to call a member in the ward to find out the best fishing spot. Brother Zimmer told us to go over to a like. So we did and we went Ice fishing over there. Had no success but is was still fun. Elder Humphreys and I decide that we will go fishing the last part of the transfer which is the first week in April when it does get warmer. Hopefully in the first part of April the fish will bite.
               Alright on to the missionary work So we have been very busy which is really awesome. Elder Humphreys and I have been working with this one new investigator. His name is T.J. R, we've had two lessons with him and also have been to church once. TJ was not able to make it out to church yesterday because his five month year old son got sick for the first time and he had to take care of him. TJ is a amazing man that was just looking around for a new church and he knew that Mormon's were big in families so he reffed himself. Planning to tech TJ tonight The Gospel Of Jesus Christ. We are working with a couple other investigators and really been working with many Less Actives that are so close to coming back to church.
   I don't know if you have had the Sister missionary's over in a while but anyways. Our ward mission leader is trying to get us into members homes to teach them all the messages we teach to investigators. So that includes The Restoration of the Gospel, The Plan Of Salvation and also The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Which are the three main lessons then the other three which our The Word of Wisdom, The Law of Chasity and also Tithing and fast offerings. It's been really awesome because we've been able to teach the members and get insight from them. Also the members know that they are back up plans to anything that fall through.
   It's really hard to think of things to email the family and friends so if you could ask me some questions each week that would be nice. :)  I don't know what I've told you about the mission, I hope my emails are still good. Some weeks it feels like I say the same thing with some type of cool insight or story to tell.  Anyways I have a cool insight I thought of this week during my scripture reading..........Have been reading from Helaman chapter 1 and also 2. So I read the talk from Richard G. Scott "Living a life of peace, Joy and Purpose" and what I got out of it that it testify of the same stuff. Even though it was 600BC. I don't have my scripture in front of me right now because just came back from ice fishing but I will share more of the insight in detail next Monday.
         I love the last part of your letter mom, it reminds me of another cool thing that a missionary showed me in the past. In 2 Nephi 9:39  O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness inatransgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that bcunning one. Remember, to beccarnally-minded is ddeath, and to be espiritually-minded is flifegeternal. If you take Spiritually minded is life eternal. The first letter of each word spells out "Smile"  So if we let our self keep learning and have a spiritual mind we will always have a "SMILE" on our face.
    Love Elder Jenson

Monday, March 3, 2014

March 3, 2014

Awesome Week!

       It's very sad to hear about Jayce, but we all do know that she is in a better place right now. Tell the Glovers that I'm praying for there family. Sounds like everyone is still keeping busy which is great. Yes it is so crazy that I have only about 4 months left to go, but anyways lets move on from that topic. :)
       So to start off the week we had transfers on Tuesday. Elder Humphreys and I stayed at the apartment because the Office Elders were bring Elder Peterson up and also the truck because we had to finish cleaning out the Croswell Apartment. Elder Humphreys and I set up some appointments during the morning time and it went great then we headed up to Crowell the finish cleaning the apartment. Sleept over in the Croswell apartment Tuesday night and finished cleaning it out on Wednesday morning.  We received Edler Peterson. Then we went to an apartment out in Brown City to see Vanessa, it went pretty good other then that she has not text us back since then so I don't know whats up. Elder Humphreys and I are planning to stop by Vanessa on Wednesday when we are in the area. We will be driving every Wednesday now to Lapree (1in half drive) for district meeting which will be fun.
   Wednesday- On Wednesday we had district meeting over in Lapree and it went great. Elder Ewell who I came out with me is in the district so that is fun to see how much he has change since the MTC. After district meeting we had some appointment over in the north are of Blue water area (Croswell, Brow City and other). They all went very wheel. Went and introduced Elder Peterson to the Hurley's (the family with the buffalo pic).
      Thursday- On Thursday we had a couple of appointments in Blue water then just went tracking a little bite. Had a dinner apartment with a family in the ward . Went awesome just taught the Restoration Of The Gospel. Then just saw more members in the ward and introduced Elder Peterson then saw a couple of Less actives.
   Friday- So on Friday we went about 200 miles for the day because we had an apartment all the way up in Sandusky then went over to Brown City to contact a referral that we received then also drive down to New Haven on the other side of the area to contact another referrals that we did receive. Had many great lesson with the referral and also couple of Less Actives and then just stop byes. Then we went into the apartment at 7pm because we still had to do weekly planning (Do every Friday morning from 10am to 1pm, figure out who we have for the next week, look at goals we set for the week, schedule apointments and other stuff).
  Saturday- Had many good lessons and saw lots of people.
          Sunday- So on Sunday we went to church and we had three less actives show up to church with also three investigators at church so that was way awesome. Then after Church we received a phone call from President, we found out that Elder Peterson was getting moved to a new area because a elder went home because of medical problems. So know it's only Elder Humphreys and I taking care of the area :). We got up about 20 lessons this week which I have not gotten up to since Flint and did get a couple of weeks in Warren.
        Well today we are just hanging out then waiting to see if a member is still up to going ice fishing later on today!! :) Elder Humphreys and I are planning if Humphreys stays next transfer we are going to go fishing every Monday.
            Thanks for being such a awesome family and parents!! :) I love that I can always say to each of my companions that the parents and I always got along, other then just little stuff that I did dumb other then that we have always been really close! Thanks
      Love Elder Jenson
                   P.S sent the letters in the mail. Also the talk that mom told me to read last week. On Sunday night before I got the email from mom I started to read it then I finished it after you told me about it in the email. I love that talk it really did help me. I kinda cried/laughed because I was going through the "you need money, name, and all the above" to make a name for yourself and get anywhere in life. Elder Richard G Scott's talk did help me out  a lot. Thanks

Monday, February 24, 2014

Feb 24, 2014

Closed :/

    Well from the title of the email, you probably know where I'm going with this. So as I said a couple of weeks ago that we heard from the last elder here that in his interview President Gerber asked him if he should close the Blue Water North area down...............This last week on Wednesday we had Specialized Training with the Blue Water District (Elder Williams, Elder Humphrey, Elder Jones and I)  and then another District. Specialized Training went pretty good. It was a Q&A and read about the experience of  Moses seeing God and all. Had some really good in sight and also deep doctrine.
To go on after the Specialized Training which is only 3 hrs. President Gerber asked  if the Blue Water District would come and talk to him. Pres did not have a very happy face so we thought we were all in trouble just because of the last couple of weeks. Which I've told you about. So we went and talk to President Gerber and he asked  basically  "give me a couple reasons why the North area should be open". We gave him a couple, then I said that one reason why I think the area is not going anywhere is because you stick an Elder there for 6 weeks then you pull the one out and you expect the Elder that was there for the 6 weeks have everything to normal and the bring a new Elder in and then do the something the last 5 transfers". Thanks that I have Elder Jones and the other Elders to back me up because when I said it, it did not come out like I want'ed it to. President Gerber said thanks and we were done.
      Elder Jones and I, the rest of the week just went and saw the normal people. We actually had a pretty good week for numbers. Then we were like yeah Pres is going to close it. So we got the call Saturday night. The Blue Water North area is closing. Elder Jones and I have been cleaning the apartment and all. The mission is giving the apartment back and we have had that apartment for I would guess seven years or so. The mission has closed the area before but in the past the Elders would just switch apartments during the week so they could cover both areas equally. So I guess I can say that I've had a area closed on me, don't know if that's good or bad.
                 I will be down with Elder Humphrey and we will be getting a new companion with us. Elder Humphrey and I will be covering the biggest area in the mission!! :) Well the biggest now, I was in the biggest area when it was splint. It's going to be crazy. :) Elder Humphrey and I are best buds! It's will be a lot of hard work and lot's of fun depending on who we get for the third companion. Anyways Elder Humphrey and I are determined to work hard and have fun even if the third companion is  not so for the either working hard or having fun. I would  have to guess the area know is a lot bigger then  Kane County!
                 Elder Jones was a fun companion to be with, we did work and also had a lot of fun. I have been able to learn a lot from Elder Jones.

             Well other then that I will email you tomorrow to let you know my new third companion and all. I will try to do the mathematics of the area to tell you how big the area is now. I'm guessing lot's of the Lansing Mission is the normal size of now called the Blue Water area. For Grandma and Grandpa Tischler  :)  My new address is: 2072 Parkdale Dr. Port Huron, MI 48060
       
Tell Derek to have a very Happy B-DAY on the 26!  Thanks the three little ones for the letters :)
      Well love you family, and keep up the work and having fun!!

              Love Elder Jenson        

Monday, February 17, 2014

Feb 17, 2014

Blue Water
 
     Well this week in the Blue Water  North area has been going pretty dang well and can't really complain much. It's been getting a little warmer then usually which is always nice. Have been able to where a sweeter.
   To start of the week last week we were able to see a couple of Less Actives that live way far from Croswell. They live over in Brown city which is about a 45 min drive and a lot of miles. So we had a couple of Less Actives that we have never meet, either of us so we decided to take a day out and see the 10 or so LA's. Elder Jones and I were able to do some service for an older guy that is a LA and he is way nice. I guess he just got out of the hospital for some kinda of surgery. We were able to clean his drive way off. Which is pretty cool because when we do ask anyone even LA if they need any help they usually say no but this time the guy we meet said yep. Elder Jones and I will probably stop on by on Tuesday when we are in the neighborhood.  After we stopped bye him Elder Jones and I stopped by a part member family which is way awesome. The daughter Haley and the mother Vanessa which is not a member yet. Anyways Elder Jones and I knocked on the door and Vanessa invited us in and said that Haley (member of 5 yrs, 15 yr old)  was not there but if we stopped bye tomorrow we could come over for dinner and a message, which surprised  both of us because we were not expecting that. So we set up for the next night and we had a ZL (Zone Leader) with us Elder Chamberlain. The Lesson went way great, just reviewed The Restoration Of The Gospel Of Jesus Christ with the pamphlets. :) Elder Jones and I do great as a companionship! Picked up Vanessa as a new investigator and planning on going over tomorrow night and watching the Jesus Christ video with Vanessa and Haley because they have the DVD that the missionary's in the past gave them but they have not watched it so Elder Jones and I are planning on watching that and doing an introduction of The Book Of Mormon.  Other then that that the really only investigator that we have :/ will be looking for some more this week through PM (part member family's).
   So we went of to Brown City, MI which I said in the first part of the email and it is a pretty cool town. Brown City is about the size of Kanab,UT and it does remind me a lot of back home just like the streets and the lay out of the town. The cool thing about Brown City is that for the welcome sign to Brown City I guess it's the home of the birth place of the Motor homes and also have a little Amish community so we've seen Amish people walking on the side of the street and some biggie's.
  I was able to go on an exchange over the weekend with Elder Humphreys because the Elder Williams (DL) wanted to go with Elder Jones up in our area. Elder Humphrey has been out about 8 months and is an amazing Elder! Elder Humphreys and I have some funny story's from that exchange like getting flipped off and also the same person told us the "-


, Off". We were heading back to the apartment for the night to start the exchange and Elder Humphreys was getting ride on by the car in back of him and he switched lines  right when the person in back of him switch so they won't to happy about that. I sure did let us know! The next morning Elder Humphreys and I went tracking, had much success and had many great lessons with investigators in there area! It sure was good being able to teach a lot and go tracking! There area is like ST. George and  Elder Jones and my area is just like Kanab but smaller town but the same distance about to St. George (Port Huron).
   Well this week in transfers so that should be interesting and we have specialized training down  in Warren area on Wednesday :) about a 2 hr dive to get down there.
                               Well Love you family and have an amazing week!! Help the Sister missionary's out in Kanab when you have time because it's really hard to do missionary work in a very big area with small town with people knowing your car and all. :) Tell Derek that he should have a letter coming his way! Also did you get my letter I sent  last week??
 
        :) Love Elder Jenson
 P.S- Been looking through all the letters I've received and working on writing back to people that I've not got back to. So I will in the next couple of weeks send a package with letters you can hand out to who they say it goes to! :) Thanks and love you tons family

Monday, February 10, 2014

Feb 10, 2014

Family!

 Hey family, sounds like that Jordan had a pretty good Birthday. I'm sorry that I did not wish him a happy B-day. :( When I got back to the apartment last Monday I was like "oh crap that's what I forgot to tell Jordan. Is to have a good B-day".
    Well this week in the Blue Water North area, nothing has happen much, we've been trying to figure out who's in the ward and what's one's have moved out. Elder Jones and I went out with a member (Brother Perry, recent convert  of about a year) in the ward to help him with home teaching and that was great for us because we won't ever able to get in contact with this part member family. Now that the family kinda knows us, we might just have a way in the door.
 The other day we had a great Zone Meeting with (ZL's Elder Uptain and Eleder Chamberlain) it was on the atonement and directed to the missionaries. It went pretty good, Elder Chamberlain did the example of having a donut and then an Elder would do 10 push ups each for everyone even if they did not want the donut. I felt kinda bad because everyone was crying and I was not crying. One reason was because you being the great seminary teacher already did it and I knew the focus of it. I don't know, some Sisters and Elders were crying pretty bad. I'm very happy that I know why Jesus Christ had to suffer for us, don't know if this is bad to say but it's life. Heavenly Farther sent his son's for us because there is no really other way to get back with God accept through the Atonement of Jesus Christ all thing are possible. Anyways  I was asked by the ZL's to give a testimony a night before the zone meeting at the zone meeting. I did it a different way kinda, I somewhat did a two minute instruction on Alama 37:6-7 and went off on that and shared my testimony. :) So that was pretty cool and everyone like the way.
       So yesterday I talked in church :) went amazing! I gave a 25min talk on The Plan Of Salvation: A Flight Plan For Life that was given in the 1997 General Conference by Duane B. Gerrard. I decided that I love speaking much more then teaching for some funny reason! I will sent you the talk I gave this week in the mail.
   Well other then that the mission is been great, love it and sure have been learning a lot from it :) Will be praying for the Glover family.
  Love Elder Jenson  have an happy Valentine